When King Nebuchadnezzar rose to world power around 600 BC, the people of Judah were going to be ruled by the foreign king who was not godly. Things seemed out of control, how could a foreign, pagan king rule over God’s people? Simple, God made it so. In Daniel 2:21 it says, “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.” Yes, the Lord in fact controls which kingdom and which king rises to power. He establishes governments and even the president of the Unites States. You cannot get around Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Even the winner of this election.

Now, don’t mistake things, God does not approve of all those in positions of authority! Many of the kings which God raised to power in the course of human history were later judged by God for their ungodliness. Yet, for a time, God has raised up human governments and human leaders for his purposes--to judge and to save. May His will be done.

Nowhere is this tension felt more in history than when Jesus was crucified. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea when Jesus was crucified. He was one of those in positions of authority having been placed there by God. When Pilate questioned Jesus, Jesus would not answer him leading to the following conversation in John 19:10-11: “So Pilate said to him, ‘You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.’” Pilate’s power, Jesus says, was given to him by God. Pilate was in position to prevent Jesus from being crucified. However, being a people pleaser (and God knew it), Pilate gave in to the demands of the people and had Jesus crucified. God used the evil governor to bring salvation to the world through Jesus’ death and resurrection. God knew what He was doing.

Whoever wins the election will be a sinner. That person might be a sinner who doesn’t trust Jesus Christ. Yet, God put them in the oval office for His purposes. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” All things includes this election. It will be used of God for our ultimate good.